IndyJay
New member
Anybody having luck with 180gr. BT's and or 165gr. Partitions? Looking for a good flat shooting, hard hitting deer/antelope load.
Thanks,
Thanks,
.300 Winny loads
- Thread starter IndyJay
- Start date
T Bone
Well-known member
Mine likes the 180 grain Hornady's boat tails. I use IMR 4350, can't remember the grain measurement, but they are 3050 fps at the muzzle. Its a great all around load.
Delw
Member
Indy my ruger #1 shoots BT(ballistic tips) at 1/2" groups @100 yards
hodgdon 4350 @ 67.8 grains...
I have better results with Imr powder and bench rest remington primers,69.9 grains of imr4831.....
I hate putting load data up so please go by your book and start there then work up and or down for your best results....
ALso my #1 is a 26" barrel
Delw
hodgdon 4350 @ 67.8 grains...
I have better results with Imr powder and bench rest remington primers,69.9 grains of imr4831.....
I hate putting load data up so please go by your book and start there then work up and or down for your best results....
ALso my #1 is a 26" barrel
Delw
IndyJay
New member
thanks Del... I understand and appreciate your concern. Will consult the Nosler manual before working up any loads!
Nodak Hunter
New member
The beauty of the .300 WM (or any other large capacity magnum, for that matter) isn't so much that you can load light bullets hot, but that you can load heavy bullets to respectable velocities. Generally for big game hunting distances under 400 yards, the "hardest hitting" bullet in a given caliber will be the heaviest bullet that can be loaded to about 2,900-3,000 fps. Here's why, specifically for the .300 Winnie.
A 165 grain Ballistic Tip (or Partition, it doesn't really matter) can be launched at about 3,200 fps muzzle velocity. With a 250 yard zero, you are about 3.5" above line of sight at the highest point in the bullet's flight, and at 400 yards, you are about 13" low. Energy drops from 3751 ft-lbs at the muzzle to 2140 ft-lbs at 400 yards.
Now then, a 200 grain Partition with a m.v. of 2950 fps with a 250 yard zero will have a max height of 4" above line of sight, and at 400 yards will be 14.5" low. Energy drops from 3810 ft-lbs at the muzzle to 2200 ft-lbs at 400 yards.
Looking at the data, one might say, "The numbers are almost identical, what's the big deal?". That is true, but there is one thing that has been left out - sectional density. A .248 sd vs. 301 sd means that the 200 grain bullet will penetrate much deeper at any given distance. This is no big deal on a whitetail, for either (Partition) bullet will likely go completely through at the given distances, but for an elk or something of equally large size, especially with a less than perfect angle, it can make a large difference indeed.
The only time I use 165 grainers (actually 168 gr Hornadys) in my .300 WM is when I load it down to 3,000 fps for whitetails/pronghorns only. I don't trust the bullet's construction for impact velocities above 3,000 fps, which is why it's loaded down. If it's for something bigger and/or long (over 300 yard) shots, I go with 200 grain Partitions.
My .300 WM likes a max load of RE 22 under the 200 grain Partition. I have to seat my bullets about .12" off the lands due to magazine box constraints, so my max load is actually 2 grains higher than what is listed as "max" in the Nosler manual. Velocity is 2,952 fps, which is a bit under the max velocities in Nosler manual #4. I've reloaded the practice/testing cases eight times, and the primer pockets are still tight, so the pressure is fine. Interestingly enough, accuracy is quite good with the bullets this far off the lands. Looking at my records, the last five three shot groups with this load average 1.04".
Like Del mentioned, each rifle is an entire system unto itself, and some may get max velocities in their rifle 2 grains UNDER listed max in the manual. Start low, work up, and in order to know where you are pressure/velocity wise, you really NEED a chronograph, or access to a friend's.
Re 22 is my powder of choice in the .300 Winnie and 7mm Rem Mag. N165 is also a very good choice, as is 4831.
A 165 grain Ballistic Tip (or Partition, it doesn't really matter) can be launched at about 3,200 fps muzzle velocity. With a 250 yard zero, you are about 3.5" above line of sight at the highest point in the bullet's flight, and at 400 yards, you are about 13" low. Energy drops from 3751 ft-lbs at the muzzle to 2140 ft-lbs at 400 yards.
Now then, a 200 grain Partition with a m.v. of 2950 fps with a 250 yard zero will have a max height of 4" above line of sight, and at 400 yards will be 14.5" low. Energy drops from 3810 ft-lbs at the muzzle to 2200 ft-lbs at 400 yards.
Looking at the data, one might say, "The numbers are almost identical, what's the big deal?". That is true, but there is one thing that has been left out - sectional density. A .248 sd vs. 301 sd means that the 200 grain bullet will penetrate much deeper at any given distance. This is no big deal on a whitetail, for either (Partition) bullet will likely go completely through at the given distances, but for an elk or something of equally large size, especially with a less than perfect angle, it can make a large difference indeed.
The only time I use 165 grainers (actually 168 gr Hornadys) in my .300 WM is when I load it down to 3,000 fps for whitetails/pronghorns only. I don't trust the bullet's construction for impact velocities above 3,000 fps, which is why it's loaded down. If it's for something bigger and/or long (over 300 yard) shots, I go with 200 grain Partitions.
My .300 WM likes a max load of RE 22 under the 200 grain Partition. I have to seat my bullets about .12" off the lands due to magazine box constraints, so my max load is actually 2 grains higher than what is listed as "max" in the Nosler manual. Velocity is 2,952 fps, which is a bit under the max velocities in Nosler manual #4. I've reloaded the practice/testing cases eight times, and the primer pockets are still tight, so the pressure is fine. Interestingly enough, accuracy is quite good with the bullets this far off the lands. Looking at my records, the last five three shot groups with this load average 1.04".
Like Del mentioned, each rifle is an entire system unto itself, and some may get max velocities in their rifle 2 grains UNDER listed max in the manual. Start low, work up, and in order to know where you are pressure/velocity wise, you really NEED a chronograph, or access to a friend's.
Re 22 is my powder of choice in the .300 Winnie and 7mm Rem Mag. N165 is also a very good choice, as is 4831.
300WIN RL 19 70.2 GR. NOSLER 180 PART CCI LRM WW -.010
300 WIN RL 22 75.5 GR NOSLER 180 PART WLRM RP -.010
The first one was for a custom US Model 1917 Enfield that I built and the second one is for a Sako FinnBear...
Good luck..
300 WIN RL 22 75.5 GR NOSLER 180 PART WLRM RP -.010
The first one was for a custom US Model 1917 Enfield that I built and the second one is for a Sako FinnBear...
Good luck..
Shaky
New member
I used to use a 180gr BT in my 300 win mag. They do shoot flat and accurate.
Since I now make my own bullets, I use them. I would look kind of silly not using my own bullets.
Here is the load I use in a 300 win mag:
159gr EXP Groove Bullet
79gr of Rel 22
CCI-BR2 Primer
Norma Case
3.505 OAL, .015" off the lands
3 shot group at 100 yards = .375"
Velocity - 3410 FPS
Rifle used was a Rem 700 BDL with a 26" barrel.
This would be an extremely HOT load if I used a conventional "type" bullet. DO NOT use this load data. As has already been said, each rifle is different.
I see no pressure signs of any kind with the above load using EXP Groove Bullets.
Have a good one,
Don
Since I now make my own bullets, I use them. I would look kind of silly not using my own bullets.
Here is the load I use in a 300 win mag:
159gr EXP Groove Bullet
79gr of Rel 22
CCI-BR2 Primer
Norma Case
3.505 OAL, .015" off the lands
3 shot group at 100 yards = .375"
Velocity - 3410 FPS
Rifle used was a Rem 700 BDL with a 26" barrel.
This would be an extremely HOT load if I used a conventional "type" bullet. DO NOT use this load data. As has already been said, each rifle is different.
I see no pressure signs of any kind with the above load using EXP Groove Bullets.
Have a good one,
Don
Delw
Member
Forgotto say my #1 will only shoot 180 grain bullets with good accuracy...
Delw
Delw
Washington Hunter
Well-known member
Have you considered the Barnes 168 grain XLC? My brother and I will be loading some up for his rifle this weekend. He's using RL 19. And he'll be shooting them through the new chronograph. I'll let you know how they do.
IndyJay
New member
Thanks for the advice gentlemen... haven't tried the Barnes XLC's yet. Just trying to work with the limited powder and bullets that I currently have on hand...
